Adjustable legrest assembly for an invalid wheelchair



April 1968 H. E. KERNES 3,376,067

ADJUSTABLE LEGREST ASSEMBLY FOR AN INVALID WHEELCHAIR Filed Nov. 4, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. HAramou 1 Kaunas April 2, 1968 H. E. KERNES 3,376,067

ADJUSTABLE LEGREST ASSEMBLY FOR AN INVALID WHEELCHAIR Filed Nov. 4, 1966 2 Sheets-Shee INVENTOR HORMOM EKERMES United States Patent 3,376,067 ADJUSTABLE LEGREST ASSEMBLY FOR AN INVALID WHEELCHAIR Harmon E. Kernes, Toledo, Ohio, assignor to Howmet Corporation, Archbold, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Filed Nov. 4, 1966, Ser. No. 592,048 2 Claims. (Cl. 297-427) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An adjustable footrest and legrest assembly for invalid Wheel chairs having horizontally spaced apart side frames, each provided with a horizontally disposed tubular member having an open front end. The footrest and legrest assembly for each side frame including a rearwardly projecting member for insertion and infinite horizontal adjustment therein.

The present invention relates to invalid wheel chairs and more particularly to an attachment for such chairs which adjustably supports a footrest and legrest assembly.

Since persons required to employ wheel chairs may vary considerably in size, it is a desideratum of the suppliers of wheel chairs to produce chairs which may readily accommodate individuals of different heights and sizes. One of the areas which demand paramount attention is the footrest and legrest assemblies. These assemblies are typically mounted on the front of the wheel chair and may be integral with the wheel chair frame or swingable about a vertical axis to permit the assemblies to be swung from a position of use to a position of non-use when desired. In a great many instances, the footrest and legrest assemblies include means for adjusting the vertical position of the footrest and the angular relation of the footrest and the legrest with respect to the chair frame.

It is an object of the present invention to produce a footrest and legrest assembly which may be adjusted horizontally with respect to the wheel chair frame.

Another object of the invention is to produce a footrest and legrest assembly for invalid wheel chairs wherein the assembly is readily adjustable and upon reaching the proper adjustment is satisfactorily locked into a fixed position for use.

Still another object of the invention is to produce a footrest and legrest assembly which may be simply attached to existing wheel chair frames.

A further object of the invention is to produce an adjustable footrest and legrest assembly for invalid wheel chairs which is readily and economically manufactured.

The above and other objects of the invention may be achieved by an adjustable footrest and legrest assembly comprising a hollow tubular member; means for horizontally securing the hollow tubular member to a wheel chair frame; a footrest and legrest supporting structure having a projecting member integral therewith for to and fro sliding engagement within the hollow tubular member; and means for selectively preventing relative movement between the hollow tubular member and the projecting member of the footrest and legrest supporting structure.

The above objects and advantages of the invention will be clearly apparent from reading the following detailed description of an embodiment of the invention when considered in the light of the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary front perspective view of a wheel chair incorporating the principles of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary elevational view partly in section of the structure illustrated in FIGURE 1; and

3,376,067 Patented Apr. 2, 1968 FIGURE 3 is a top view in section of the structure illustrated in FIGURE 2.

Referring to the accompanying drawings wherein simi lar reference numerals design-ate similar parts throughout, conventional wheel chair assemblies typically include two opposed upright side frames which may or may not be capable of being collapsed or folded to a position of non-use for the purpose of storage and transfer. The side frames are usually formed of metallic tubing for purposes of weight and strength and include forwardly and rearwardly disposed legs. Since these legs are identical with respect to each side frame, only a portion of one side frame, generally indicated by reference numeral 10, is shown for purposes of clarity. The forwardly disposed legs 12 extend vertically and are suitably connected to the rearwardly disposed legs 14 by a lower horizontally extending tube member 16. A caster Wheel 18 is suitably mounted at the bottom of the forwardly disposed leg 12 to pivot about a vertical axis. A drive wheel 20 is journaled on the rearwardly disposed leg 14 to rotate about a horizontal axis.

The footrest and legrest assemblies are generally mounted on the forwardly disposed legs 12; either fixedly attached thereto, or hingedly or swingably mounted between predetermined limits. The footrest and legrest assemblies may be permanently aflixed; or alternatively,

may be selectively adjustable. The illustrated embodiment of the wheel chair structure shown on the accompanying drawings is of a footrest and legrest assembly which is selectively adjustable.

The footrest and legrest assembly is generally indicated by reference numeral 22 and comprises a generally L- shaped tube 24, the upper end of which is provided with a generally U-shaped horizontally disposed bracket or yoke 26. The uppermost end of a tubular member 28 is pivotally secured to the bracket 26' so as to be pivotably movable with respect to the tube 24 about a horizontal axis. The tubing member 28 extends generally downwardly and has a footrest 30 mounted thereon at the terminal end thereof. The details of the footrest 30 are not illustrated in detail because they are not pertinent to the present invention.

The tubular member 28 is also provided with a legrest panel 32 to which is securely attached intermediate at ends a collar 34 which is transversely slotted. The slotted collar 34 is adapted to slidingly encircle the outside peripheral surface of the tubular member 28. A pin 36 is Welded or otherwise securely attached to the tubular member 28 and extends radially outwardly therefrom through the slot in the collar 34 to enable limited rotative movements of the panel 32. The pin 34 satisfactorily maintains the vertical position of the legrest panel 32. As will be readily apparent, the legrest panel 32 may be swung out of the leg supporting position, as shown, Within the limits provided by the interaction between the pin 36 and the slot formed in the collar 34.

The tubular member 28 and its associated footrest 30 and the legrest panel 32 may be simultaneously swung forwardly and upwardly and be held in any desired position to which it is swung by means of a rod 38 pivotally secured to the tubular member 28, as indicated at 40. The rod 38 passes through a pair of spring-biased locking plates 42, one of which is secured to the tube 24, as shown at 44. When the tubular member 28 is in its most downwardly disposed position, it is suitably cradled Within a yoke 46 securely atlixed to the lowermost free end of the tube 24.

One end of a tubular member 50 is secured to the tube 24 adjacent its upper end and is adapted to extend rearwardly at about right angles thereto. The tubular member 58 is preferably polygonal in cross section.

A hollow horizontally disposed tube 52 is adapted to extend between the forwardly and rearwardly disposed legs 12 and 14, respectively, of the side frame and the front portion of the tube 52 is fixedly secured to the outer side of the forwardly disposed leg 12 as by welding and the rear end thereof is fixed to the rear leg by a bracket 58. It will be understood that the front portion of the tube 52 could likewise be fixedly secured to the inner side of the forwardly disposed leg 12.

The cross-sectional configuration of the tube 52 is substantially the same as the cross-sectional configuration of the tubular member 50 and the interior dimensions of the tube 52 are slightly larger than the exterior dimensions of the tubular member 50. In this fashion, the tubular member 50 may be readily received in telescoping sliding relation within the tube 52 and has slight tilting action relative thereto.

It will be readily apparent that the entire footrest and legrest may be adjusted toward or away from the wheel chair side frame 10 to any desired degree to accommodate the support of patients of different heights and leg lengths by merely adjusting the amount or degree of penetration of the tubular member 50 within the tube 52. When the proper adjustment is achieved, the Weight of the footrest and legrest assembly causes the lower edge 66 of the open end of the tube 52 to, in effect, bite against the lower surface of the tubular member 50 by a slight tilting action, as illustrated in FIGURE 2, thereby to simply and adequately militate against any relative shifting movement between the membersv Since the crosssectional configuration of the tubular member 50 and the tube 52 are preferably polygonal, no relative rotative movement of the tubular member 50 may occur about the longitudinal axis thereof relative to the tube 52.

While it has been mentioned that the tube 52 may be fixedly secured to the forwardly and rearwardly disposed legs 12 and 14 of the side frame 10 by means of welding, it will be readily apparent that the securement can be achieved by threaded fastening means, riveting, and other similar means.

The structure illustrated and described provides a compact and simple structure which is easily manipulated for adjustment to accommodate persons of various sizes and heights, and provides for easy removal and subsequent transportion or storage of the footrest and legrest assembly.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes I have explained the principle and mode of operation of my invention and have illustrated and described what I now consider to represent its best embodiment. However, I desire to have it understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described.

What I claim is:

1. An adjustable footrest and legrest assembly for invalid wheel chairs having spaced apart side frames comprising:

a hollow tubular member having an open end;

means for horizontally securing said hollow tubular member to the side frame of the wheel chair;

a footrest and legrest supporting structure having a projecting member integral therewith for to and fro sliding engagement with said hollow tubular member through the open end thereof, the cross-sectional area of the projecting member being sufiiciently smaller than the crosssectional area of said hollow tubular member to permit for a slight tilting action of the projecting member with said hollow tubular member; and

means for selectively preventing relative movement between said hollow tubular member and the projecting member of said footrest and legrest supporting structure, said means including a lower edge portion on the inner surface of the open end of said tubular member for biting against the lower surface of the projecting member of said footrest and legrest supporting structure during a slight tilting action of the projecting member.

2. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein the crosssectional configuration of said hollow tubular member and the projecting member of said footrest and legrest supporting structure is polygonal.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,189,384 6/1965 Bliss 297427 3,205,006 9/1965 Mommsen 297-429 X 3,249,387 5/1966 Pivacek 297-417 3,249,388 5/1966 Jennings 297-427 X 3,292,972 12/1966 Krueger 2974l7 X CASMIR A. N'UNBERG, Primary Examiner. 

